Display rack



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ATTORNEYS United States Patent O The present invention relates to a rack for displaying or storing merchandise and more particularly to such a rack having means permitting the shelves to be easily adjusted and in which the rack may be easily assembled and disassembled without the need of tools.

Modern merchandisers emphasize that a great portion of the buying dollar is presently being spent on so-called impulse items. To take advantage of this trend many supermarkets and the like are turning more and more to displaying such items on temporary display racks located at various points throughout the store. Since the location selected is usually a temporary one and the quantity of items to be displayed will vary, it is important that such racks are capable of being easily assembled and disassembled with a minimum of time and eiort. Retail stores lare generally limited with respect to mechanically skilled helpers and thus a rack to be suitable for use in such places must be capable of being set up with little or no mechanical operations or tools. Storage of such racks lis also a problem and when disassembled, they should occupy a minimum amount of space. Parts should also be interchangeable and the number of different parts kept at a minimum so that many racks may be stored in disassembled form without creating problems caused by losing parts and without it being necessary to keep all the parts from a single rack together. At the same time it is desirable to provide such a rack with means permitting the shelves a range of adjustability so as to enable the shelves to accommodate different quantities and sizes of items. Racks now being used to display items for sale in supermarkets or the like lack some if not all of these features.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an improved display rack by providing means which enable such a rack to be assembled and disassembled in a minimum of time and without use of special tools or skills.

It is another object of the present invention to produce a display rack which is capable of displaying a variety of quantities and sizes of goods by providing means for vertically adjusting the shelves comprising such a rack.

It is still another object of the present invention to produce an easily-stored display rack for supermarkets and the like by providing means for disassembling such a rack into two different kinds of standardized component parts, the members of each set of component parts each being completely interchangeable with other members of the set.

It is still another yobject of the present invention to reduce manufacturing and freight costs for display racks and the like by providing a construction for such a rack which permits it to be manufactured by producing two different component parts and which can then be shipped to the point of use to be assembled by the purchaser.

Yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and drawingsin which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display rack embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the rack shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the strucf set of pluri-gers 21.

ture shown in FIG. 2 with sections removed for purposes vof clarity, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the plunger assembly of the present invention.

Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention 'a display rack 10 is .shown in its assembled form as comprising spaced, parallel uprights 11 preferably constructed of square tubing or similar material. A plurality of shelves 12 are each provided with tubular corner members 13` disposed at and secured to, preferably by welding, the corners of the shelves 12. Each of the corner members 13 is preferably constructed of square tubing or other similar material having inside dimensions ysuiciently large to permit the uprights 11 to slidably extend therethrough as can best be seen in FIG. 3. The corner members 13` are provided with a lower edge 13a and are secured to the shelves 12 having their longitudinal axes parallel to each other and preferably substantially normal to the planes containing the shelves 12.

The uprights 11 are each provided with a face portion 14. A plurality of preferably uniformly spaced perforations 15 are provided in the face portion 14 each being centered with respect to the longitudinal edges 16. of the face portion 14. Each of the perforations 15 carries a plunger assembly 17, as can best be seen in FIG. 4, 'preferably comprising a cylindrical base 1S having a diameter slightly less than the inside dimensions of the tubular uprights 11. The cylindrical base 18 is provided with a recessed portion 19 at one end which provides the seat for a spring 20. A plunger or stop member 21 has a reduced end portion 22 which registers with the perforation 15 and is urged outwardly through the perforation 15 bythe spring 20. End caps 23 are preferably carried at the ends Vof the uprights 11.

The display rack 10 is produced by manufacturing the uprights 11 from a suitable tubing material. The plunger assemblies 17 are inserted in the uprights 11. The plunger assemblies 17 are constructed so that the perforations 15 and the reduced end portion 22 ofthe plunger 21 are selfaligning and the plunger 21 will snap into place as the plunger assembly 17 is urged through the uprights 11. The shelves 12 are manufactured by constructing the wire shelves and welding the tubes 13 at the corners to depend therefrom as shown. The proper quantity of shelves 12 and uprights 11 are then shipped to the purchaser at reduced shipping costs because of the reduced space requirements and the racks 10* are easily assembled fromthe stock of parts sent. The racks may be stored in this form until needed. Assembling does not require tools or special skills. The racks'lt)i may be easily disassembled when no longer needed and the parts returned to the storing area. There are no parts such as clamps, bolts and screws to delay assembly time and to become lost rendering the rack useless.

To assemble the 'display rack v10 the uprights 11 lare inserted in the corner members 13 of la shelf 12. The shelf 12 is then moved into position along the uprights 11 .by depressing the pluugers 21 until lthe lower edge 13a of the tubular members 113 rest `against the desired set of 'plungers 21. The process is repeated until all the desired shelves 12 have been placed on the uprights 11. When assembled, the shelves v12 become a part of the ksupporting framework for the display rack 10 as a whole by holding the uprights 11 in fixed upright parallel positions. Each shelf 12 then can be individually .adjusted :to several positions by depressing the yappropriate plungers 21 and moving the shelf 12 along the uprights 11 until the lower edges 13a of the corner members 13 rest against another During this adjustment the other shelves 12 maintain the rigidity of the display rack 10|.

It will be noted that screws, bolts and clamps have been completely eliminated thereby producing la rack which can be completely assembled and disassembled in a short time without the need of special skills or tools.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that other Changes and modiiications may be made without departing :from the spirit of the invention or .the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rack for displaying or storing articles comprising (a) a plurali-ty of shelves,

(b) a plurality of hollow upright Imembers each having a longitudinally extending hollow portion substantially square in cross section,

(c) tubular members secured to each of said shelves `and telescopically fitting yover said upright members to x said upright members in a position such that each of their longitudinal axes is substantially normal to the planes of said shelves,

(d) a plunality of longitudinally spaced perforations provided in lsaid upright members, and

(e) a plurality of plunger means carried in said upright members and each of said plunger means cornprising `a cylindrical base having a diameter slightly smaller than the sides of said lcrosssectional square, said base having `a recessed portion, a stop member carried in said recessed portion :and being provided with la reduced end portion extending through one of said perforations and means carried in said recessed portions |and resiliently urging said reduced end portion through said perforation whereby said reduced end portion selectively engages one of said tubular members of one of said shelves and pre vents same from moving longitudinally lalong one of said upright members.

2. A nach for displaying or storing articles comprising (a) a plurality of shelves,

(b) a plurality of hollow upright members each having ya longitudinally extending hollow portion substantially rectangular in cross section,

(c) tubular members secured to each or said shelves and telescopica'ily fitting over said upright members to iix said upright members in a position such that each of their longitudinal axes is substantially normal to the planes of said shelves,

(d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced perfonations provided in said'upright members, and

(e) Aa plurality of plunger means carried in said upright members and each .of said plunger means comprising a .cylindrical base having ia diameter slightly smaller than a pair of opposite sides of said cross sectional rectangle, said base having 1a recessed portion, a stop member carried in said recessed portion 'and being provided with la reducedend portion ex-` tending through one of said perforations and means carried in said recessed portion land resiliently urging said reduced end portion through said perforation whereby said reduced end portion selectively engages one of said tubular members of one of said shelves and prevents same from moving longitudinally along one of said upright members.

3. A rack for displaying or storing articles comprising (a) a shelf,

(b) a plurality Iof hollow upright members each having sa llongitudinally extending hollow portion substantially square in cross section,

(c) Htubular members secured to said shelf and telescopically Afitting :over said upright members in a position such that each of their longitudinal axes is substantially normal to the plane of said shelf,

(d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations provided in said upright members,

(e) a plurality of plunger means carried in said upbers to position said shelf longitudinally along said upright members.

4. A rackfor 'displaying or storing articles comprising '(a) fa shelf,

('b) a plurality of hollow upright members each havning a longitudinally extending hollow portion substantially rectangular in cross section,

(c) tubular members secured to said shelf and tele# scopically iftting over said upright members ina position such that each of their longitudinal axes is substantially normal to the plane of said shelf,

(d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations provided in said upright members,

(e) a plurality of plunger means carried in said upright members `and each of said plunger means comprising a cylindrical base having a diameter slightly smaller than a pair of the sides of said cross sectionalV rectangle, said base having a recessed portion, a stopV member carried in saidl recessed portion and being provided with a reduced end portion extending through one of said perfonations yand means carried in said recessed portion `and resiliently urging said reduced end portion through said perforation where- V by said reduced end portions selectively engage said tubular members to position said .shelf longitudinally along said upright members. Y

5. A nach for displaying or storing articles and the like comprising,

(a) la shelf,

(tb) |a plurality of substantially identical tubular upright members each having a longitudinally extending hollow portion of uniform cross section,

(c) tubular members secured lto `said shelf and telei scopically fitting over said upright members in la position such that each of their longitudinal axes is substantially norm-al to -the plane of said shelf,

'(d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations provided in each of said upright members,

(e) a plurality of plunger means carried in each of said upright members and each of said plunger means comprising a base, said base being dimensioned to lfrictionally engage at least two opposite inner wall portions of said upright member, said base having a;

recessed portion, a stop member carried in said recessed portion and being provided with a reduced end portion extending through one of said perfora- -tions and means carried in said recessed portion and resiliently urging said reduced end portion through said perforation whereby said reduced end portions selectively engage said tubular members to position said shelf longitudinally along said upright members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,970 Cook Sept. 15, 1908 1,043,432 Hyde Nov. 5, 19112 2,033,792 Sywert Mar. 10, 1936 2,229,473 Rechner Jan. 21, 1941 2,604,334 Schultz July 22, 1952 2,719,688 Seifert Oct. 4, 1955 2,763,024 Simmons Sept. 18, 1956 2,892,547 Whitaker June 30, 1959 

1. A RACK FOR DISPLAYING OR STORING ARTICLES COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF SHELVES, (B) A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW UPRIGHT MEMBERS EACH HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HOLLOW PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE IN CROSS SECTION, (C) TUBULAR MEMBERS SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SHELVES AND TELESCOPICALLY FITTING OVER SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS TO FIX SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS IN A POSITION SUCH THAT EACH OF THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXES IS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANES OF SAID SHELVES, (D) A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PERFORATIONS PROVIDED IN SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS, AND (E) A PLURALITY OF PLUNGER MEANS CARRIED IN SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS AND EACH OF SAID PLUNGER MEANS COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL BASE HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE SIDES OF SAID CROSS-SECTIONAL SQUARE, SAID BASE HAVING A RECESSED PORTION, A STOP MEMBER CARRIED IN SAID RECESSED PORTION AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A REDUCED END PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID PERFORATIONS AND MEANS CARRIED IN SAID RECESSED PORTIONS AND RESILIENTLY URGING SAID REDUCED END PORTION THROUGH SAID PERFORATION WHEREBY SAID REDUCED END PORTION SELECTIVELY ENGAGES ONE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS OF ONE OF SAID SHELVES AND PREVENTS SAME FROM MOVING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG ONE OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS. 